Society of St. Vincent de Paul Council of Los Angeles

One of the most valuable ways of instilling self-esteem into a child’s life is through outdoor programs. The hours spent in outdoor programs represent an opportunity to help children grow and acquire important social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills that otherwise would not be possible in an inner city classroom setting.

Consequently, the Camp offers nine, one-week sessions of resident camping, which are designed to help children learn necessary life skills, build self-esteem, increase their knowledge of nature, and receive mentoring from supportive role models, while spending time in a positive and nurturing environment. The Camp’s programs revolve around its ranch brand, the Circle V, which stresses the importance of respecting and getting along with others, even in trying situations. Specifically, the Circle reminds us to love God and the V to love our neighbors as ourselves. In addition, the Camp’s programs were created to give these young people the opportunity to explore the world around them, and interact with their peers in fun and exciting activities that allow them to just be kids for a week. But at the heart of the Camp’s program is the staff, or wranglers, who are chosen to mentor campers based on their life experiences and goals. A prerequisite to apply for a staff position is enrollment in a college or university program in order to convey these goals to our campers.

Circle V Ranch wants to provide each child with a camp experience that will enable them to grow as individuals. Our primary means for accomplishing this is through the “outfit” or group experience. A child comes to the program and is assigned an outfit (based upon their age). With their fellow outfit-ranchers they learn about the Circle V brand and what teamwork is all about. They learn the importance of camaraderie, responsibility, shared emotions and faith, pride in their group and in accomplishing tasks through cooperative effort, and fun in interrelating with their peers.

A second component to our program is the Camp’s activity periods in which campers can participate in their activity of choice, or spend time with friends and counselors who are not in their outfit. During their stay at camp, children may choose from such activities as arts and crafts, aquatics, sports, nature study, field trips to Lake Cachuma and Goleta County Beach, and campfire programs, along with lots of songs and great food. The Camp’s carefully selected staff is fully certified to facilitate specific programs, such as archery, swimming, and nature classes.